The Girl in the Fireplace

Like many Doctor Who fans, I spent the years that the show was off the air
a) feeling confident that the show could return to the airwaves as early as next year
and
b) casting my fantasy Doctor.

My opinions and ideas about Doctor Who as a series were shaped by my ideas about the title character. I felt that the character of The Doctor should be haughty, intelligent, funny, a little aloof and above all carefree. Rattling around the universe with The Doctor should be fun, above all else. I saw a season of 45 minute individual storylines because, letВ’s face it, no one does half hour drama. I saw the sort of rattling yarns that Doctor Who was built upon. Simple and uncomplicated.

ItВ’s odd that the one character trait that pleases me the most in current Doctor Who is one I never gave any thought to before.

Loneliness.

Christopher EcclestonВ’s brilliant portrayal of The Doctor had considerably more facets than any of his predecessors. ItВ’s not an attack against past Doctors, itВ’s just a fact of modern television characters. The sort of В‘same every weekВ’ surface portrayal that fueled television in the 60s and 70s (and, for the most part, the 80s) simply cannot connect with todayВ’s more sophisticated television viewer. Christopher EcclestonВ’s Doctor was just as moody and occasionally aloof as I expected, but the over-riding facet of his character was a profound loneliness.

ItВ’s built into the show.

With The Doctor becoming the last of his kind, his survivorВ’s guilt influenced every decision he made, be it actively avoiding contact with humans (his В‘stupid apesВ’ comments seem more like his way of imposing a distance between himself and humans and not a genuine opinion.) or a choice of clothing that says В‘DonВ’t notice me! DonВ’t touch me!В’.

I never realized how important this aspect of The Doctor had become until I saw the season two premiere В‘New EarthВ’. Despite occasionally roaring with righteous indignation, my overwhelming impression of the new Doctor revolved around his В‘I love traveling with you!В’ and В‘We had chipsВ’В’ comments. Laughing happy and carefree, the weight of the world (literally) seemed to have been lifted and The Doctor was allowed to enjoy himself.

I really didnВ’t like it.

The Doctor and Rose had become so happy/ flirty with each other (В‘SchmoopieВ’ for all you Seinfeld fans..) that all of the drama drained away. Something wasnВ’t right. Something fictional.

I wondered if, perhaps, the problem was Tennant. But itВ’s the same spirited performance I enjoyed in В‘The Christmas InvasionВ’. Could the problem be RoseВ’ ItВ’s possible. She seemed far too comfortable with this New Doctor (New New Doctor) and didnВ’t display any of the awe and (frankly) fear that she had around his predecessor.

But when I saw В‘The Girl In The FireplaceВ’, an episode where absolutely everything worked for me, it fell into place. The Doctor must be lonely. Period.

No matter how much fun and excitement we the viewer or any companion seem to be having, the character of The Doctor must always feel like he is an outsider.

Science fiction fans tend to be lonely little boys at heart.

IВ’m certainly (and uncomfortably) familiar with feeling alone and isolated by my fandom. ItВ’s what draws people to organized fandom or fanzines or conventions.

The idea that weВ’re all alone together.

I almost feel bad about how much I want Doctor Who to suffer for my entertainment, but (like it or not) itВ’s a part of the show now. And those moments of connection, those times В‘the lonely little boy learns to danceВ’ are all the sweeter because of it.

Everything about В‘The Girl In The FireplaceВ’ was magical. IВ’m a big enough girlВ’s blouse to admit that there was a lot of romance in this episode.

The sight of The Doctor coming to the rescue astride a white horse or defeating monsters hiding under the bed are huge and iconic images.

I wanted to review this episode without mentioning the authorВ’s contribution from last season, but I canВ’t. The grace and joy that marked the ending of В‘The Doctor DancesВ’ gives way to an intense and bittersweet sadness at the end of В‘FireplaceВ’.

Rose and Mikey take a back seat to guest artist Sophia Myles, who turns in a mannered and beautiful performance. In fact, everything was beautiful, from the sets to the costumes to the fabulous clockwork robots.

Once again, I eagerly await Steven MoffatВ’s contribution to next season. And once again, IВ’m wondering how heВ’ll top this one.

Just remember.